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Sitaram, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Sitaram, N..

Effect of stage loading on endwall flows in an axial flow compressor rotor

This paper reports results from investigations conducted to determine the effect of stage loading on endwall flows in a low speed axial flow compressor. These investigations consisted of two sets of measurements. The first set consisted of radial transverse of flow properties at the rotor inlet and exit, at five flow coefficients. These measurements are used to determine the boundary layer integral parameters. The displacement thicknesses at the rotor hub and tip agree reasonably well with Smith's (1970) correlation for multistage axial compressors. The second set consisted of measurements of static pressures on the rotor blade at four flow coefficients. From these measurements, lift coefficient is determined. Also, loss of lift coefficient near the tip is calculated, and is attributed mainly to the tip leakage flows.

Sitaram, N.

Performance studies on an axial flow compressor stage

A low-speed, medium loaded axial flow compressor stage is studied experimentally and theoretically. The flow compressor facility, composed of an inlet guide vane row, a rotor blade row, and a stator blade row, and the principles of the streamline curvature method (SCM) and the Douglas-Neumann cascade program are described. The radial distribution of the flow properties, the rotor blade static pressure distribution, and the lift coefficient and relative flow angle derived experimentally and theoretically are compared. It is determined that there is good correlation between the experimental flow properties and the SCM data, the Douglas-Neumann cascade program and experimental rotor blade static pressure data, and the experimental and theoretical lift coefficients only in the midspan region. Modifications to the SCM and the Douglas-Neumann cascade program in order to improve their accuracy are discussed.

Sitaram, N.

End-wall and profile losses in a low-speed axial flow compressor rotor

The blade-to-blade variation of relative stagnation pressure losses in the tip region inside the rotor of a single-stage, axial-flow compressor, is presented and interpreted in this paper. The losses are measured at two flow coefficients (one at the design point and the other at the near peak pressure rise point) to discern the effect of blade loading on the end-wall losses. The tip clearance losses are found to increase with an increase in the pressure rise coefficient. The losses away from the tip region and near the hub regions are measured downstream. The losses are integrated and interpreted in this paper.

Lakshminarayana, B.

Wall boundary layer development near the tip region of an IGV of an axial flow compressor

The annulus wall boundary layer inside the blade passage of the inlet guide vane (IGV) passage of a low-speed axial compressor stage was measured with a miniature five-hole probe. The three-dimensional velocity and pressure fields were measured at various axial and tangential locations. Limiting streamline angles and static pressures were also measured on the casing of the IGV passage. Strong secondary vorticity was developed. The data were analyzed and correlated with the existing velocity profile correlations. The end wall losses were also derived from these data.

Lakshminarayana, B.

End wall flow characteristics and overall performance of an axial flow compressor stage

This review indicates the possible future directions for research on endwall flows in axial flow compressors. Theoretical investigations on the rotor blade endwall flows in axial flow compressors reported here include the secondary flow calculation and the development of the momentum integral equations for the prediction of the annulus wall boundary layer. The equations for secondary vorticity at the rotor exit are solved analytically. The solution includes the effects of rotation and the viscosity. The momentum integral equations derived include the effect of the blade boundary layers. The axial flow compressor facility of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, which is used for the experimental investigations of the endwall flows, is described in some detail. The overall performance and other preliminary experimental results are presented. Extensive radial flow surveys are carried out at the design and various off design conditions. These are presented and interpreted in this report. The following experimental investigations of the blade endwall flows are carried out. (1) Rotor blade endwall flows: The following measurements are carried out at four flow coefficients. (a) The rotor blade static pressures at various axial and radial stations (with special emphasis near the blade tips). (b) The hub wall static pressures inside the rotor blade passage at various axial and tangential stations. (2) IGV endwall flows: The following measurements are carried out at the design flow coefficient. (a) The boundary layer profiles at various axial and tangential stations inside the blade passage and at the blade exit. (b) Casing static pressures and limiting streamline angles inside the blade passage.

Sitaram, N.

Conventional probes for the relative flow measurement in a rotor blade passage

This paper reports the measurement of the relative flow in the rotor blade passages of an axial flow compressor and an axial flow inducer using conventional probes such as five-hole, disc and the spherical pitot-static probes. The probe provides an inexpensive, yet accurate, method of deriving the three dimensional flow field in a rotor. The disc probe is suitable for the blade boundary layer measurement and the pitot-static probe for the static and stagnation pressures and the total velocity across the rotor passage. Typical data obtained from each of these probes demonstrate the complex nature of turbomachinery rotor flow.

Sitaram, N.

Blade end wall flows in compressors

A brief summary of previous work carried out on end wall flow phenomena is presented with major emphasis on annulus wall boundary layer.

Sitaram, N.